Ahmad Bashir

Ahmad Basyir (Urdu: احمد بشیر; March 24, 1923 – December 25, 2004) was a writer, journalist, intellectual and film director from Pakistan. He was the father of leading television artists Bushra Ansari, Asma Abbas, Sumbal and poet & author Neelam Ahmad Basyir. Begum Parveen Atif, also an Urdu short story writer, columnist, travelogue writer in Urdu and Punjabi, was his sister. His wife Mehmooda was his partner since 1947.[1] He was a close friend of Urdu writers Mumtaz Mufti and Ibn-e-Insha.

Not to be confused with Bashir Ahmed.

Ahmad Basyir
احمد بشیر
BornMarch 24, 1923
Eminabad near Gujranwala, Punjab, British India
DiedDecember 25, 2004 (aged 81)
Lahore  Pakistan
OccupationWriter, Journalist
Nationality Pakistani
SubjectLiterature, biography, socialism
Notable worksDil Bhatkey Ga, Jo Milay Thay Raaste Mein, film Neela Parbat (1969)
SpouseMehmooda
RelativesParveen Atif (Sister), Bushra Ansari (Daughter), Neelam Bashir (Daughter) Grandchildren: Meera Ansari, Nariman Ansari, Waqas Abbas, Zara Abbas, Saif Bahu Sheikh

Early life

Ahmad Basyir was born in Eminabad near Gujranwala (British India) on March 24, 1923. He gained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Srinagar and went to Bombay for a career in acting but soon started writing for film magazines. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, he came to settle permanently in Pakistan.

Career

After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, Ahmad Basyir worked for several newspapers in Pakistan. However, he is known for his days at Daily Imroze with particular fondness. He worked as a sub-editor at Imroze where he introduced feature writing for the first time in Urdu press. He also obtained training in film direction from Hollywood on state scholarship.[1]

Bashir also worked for the Department of Films & Publications, Government of Pakistan, and later for National Film Development Corporation, Pakistan (NAFDEC). He resigned after General Zia-ul-Haq imposed martial law in the country in 1977. He faced bitter hardships during this period in which he was never allowed to write columns in newspapers.[1]

Basyir was also a portrait writer. His book Jo Milay Thay Raaste Mein contains pen sketches of eminent literary personalities including Mumtaz Mufti, Krishan Chandar, Meeraji, Chiragh Hasan Hasrat, Hasrat Mohani and Kishwar Naheed. He also wrote an autobiographical novel Dil Bhatkey Ga.[1]

In 1969, Basyir directed and produced an Urdu film, Neela Parbat.[2] This film was considered Pakistan's early experimental feature films. However, the film proved to be too much of an alternative genre at the time and flopped at the box-office.[3] After the failure of Neela Parbat, Bashir never ventured back into film making or film production.

Awards and recognition

Death

Basyir died in Lahore of liver cancer on December 25, 2004.[1]

References
  1. http://www.dawn.com/2004/12/26/top6.htm 'Ahmad Basyir dies'- Obituary of Ahmad Basyir on Dawn newspaper, Published December 26, 2004, Retrieved June 24, 2016
  2. http://www.citwf.com/film240193.htm, Ahmad Bashir's film Neela Parbat (1969) on Complete Index To World Film (C.I.T.W.F) website, Retrieved June 24, 2016
  3. http://pakfilms.net/movies/details.php?pid=803 Archived December 20, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Film 'Neela Parbat' (1969) on PAKfilms database website, Retrieved 17 Dec 2016

Ahmad Bashir also used to write columns in Daily The Frontier Post

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